“Your sect,” he said once; “for I think you will admit it would be doing it too much honour to call it a religion.”

“As you please, monsieur,” said I. “ La parole est à vous. ”

At length I grew annoyed beyond endurance; and although he was on his own ground and, what is more to the purpose, an old man, and so holding a claim upon my toleration, I could not avoid a protest against this uncivil usage. He was sadly discountenanced.

“I assure you,” he said, “I have no inclination to laugh in my heart. I have no other feeling but interest in your soul.”